Welcome, Josien

Welcome, Josien

An empty feeling from lack of love is not easily remedied, but an empty stomach is easily filled. Soof is treading carefully in her own home. Kasper and Josien getting into a relationship is bothering her more than she’d like. And her failed date with Mick is certainly not helping. Mick is trying to get in touch. He calls, stops by, but Soof is avoiding him. She feels lost. Fortunately, there is plenty to distract her. Hansje has worked on her plans for her CookBox and once again tries to convince her daughter of its commercial potential. Soof says she’ll consider it if Hansje can collect 50 signatures. Hansje gets to work immediately, but no one seems inclined to take her CookBox seriously.

Dies and Bing have been given a history assignment about Caesar. Creativity will be rewarded. Reluctantly, they make a start at putting something together. Josien calls in to ask if she can wait inside for Kasper. The boys smell an opportunity and get Josien to help them out with their project.

Soof catches up with Jim at his dance studio. She can really use a friend at this point in time. Their friendship is still going strong. When she gets home, she sees Mick in her yard and hides in the bushes. Joy doesn’t understand, and Soof is frustrated and feels a need to vent: Mick is a nice man, but he has two horrible kids. He’s a widower. And she does not intend to fill that gap. It turns out that Mick merely stopped by to ask if Soof would take on the catering for the opening of his shop. Soof is embarrassed. When she sees Josien helping her kids with their homework, something snaps. She rather viciously sends her on her way and takes over the project, reasserting herself as a mother. She goes completely over the top, creates a paper Caesar Salad, how creative can you get?

Discussing the catering with Mick, she beats about the bush, pretending to be too busy herself, so that she will have to ask Gerrit to take on the job.

Back home, Kasper calls Soof to account for chasing away Josien. They argue, under the very eyes of Bing and Dies. When Sasha shows up, Soof tells her to call Jim as he might have a job for her at the dance studio. This makes Kasper aware of the fact that Sasha has quit her studies, for which she resents her mum. Soof backs out, fixes herself some food in her own restaurant and pours herself a glass of wine.

Everyone leaves to go to Mick’s party. Joy once again asks Soof if she won’t join, but she continues to refuse. And stays behind on her own. She pours herself another glass. Kasper and Josien are having fun, dancing and laughing with the kids. Soof calls Gerrit to ask how he’s managing. On her telephone screen she sees people partying, and she feels an outsider in her own life. Under the influence of mounting frustration, misery and white wine, she decides to go over after all. She makes a complete spectacle of herself, ranting and raving at Kasper. Yelling obscenities. An embarrassing performance that people are unlikely to forget.

They day after, she’s sorry. She realizes she will have to apologise. First of all to Mick, who is remarkably understanding. Soof admits that she’s not ready for a relationship, but she’d love to be friends. She opens up to Kasper, admitting that she’s jealous. The situation is complicated, but Kasper and Josien are very much in love. Meanwhile, Jim introduces Sacha to Rob, who runs the cafeteria at the dance studio. She can stay for a try-out and loses herself in a dance while mopping the floor. Jim notices and gives her some advice, which makes Sasha very happy. Soof is much less content, she feels like a complete failure. As a colleague, a mother, a woman, an ex-wife.

And when Hansje returns soaking wet from the pouring rain, blaming Soof that those bloody signatures are frustrating her plans, she also fails as a daughter.

Gerrit tells her that the CookBox really means a lot to Hansje. Soof decides to give it a chance.

After closing time, she’s alone in the restaurant. Mick drops by. Soof suffers a break-down, She feels completely useless. Mick has an idea. While he and Soof bake a cake for Josien, which brings them both closer together, the topic of kids causes a rift between Kasper and Josien. As she carries up her cake, Soof sees Josien leave. She wonders if it is wise to compare food and love.